Provided is a relay device capable of moving objects to be conveyed from a conveying section of a continuous conveying system to a conveying section of an intermittent conveying system in various modes. The relay device includes: a first conveying section that conveys the objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction in a first direction; a second conveying section that transfers a plurality of assembly sections intermittently in the forward direction in the first direction; a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section; and a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the first direction. The relay driving section moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction in the first direction, at the same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are conveyed in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher moves the plurality of objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

A wrapping unit (1) for a packaging line (2) comprises a conveyor (6) for feeding a succession of products (3) in a first direction (7) and a wrapping station (9) arranged along the conveyor (6) for wrapping a film (5) of wrapping material around said products (3), said wrapping station (9) comprising a wrapping device (13) provided with a plurality of wrapping members (15), each of said wrapping members (15) extending in a second direction (11) perpendicular to said first direction (7), said wrapping unit (1) further comprising a stability control group (12) for preventing said products (3) from tipping along said conveyor (6), said stability control group (12) comprising a plurality of anti-tip devices (33), each of said anti-tip devices (33) being associated, during operation, with a respective product (3) to move together with said respective product (3) through said wrapping station (9).

Provided is a relay device capable of moving objects to be conveyed from a conveying section of a continuous conveying system to a conveying section of an intermittent conveying system in various modes. The relay device includes: a first conveying section that conveys the objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction in a first direction; a second conveying section that transfers a plurality of assembly sections intermittently in the forward direction in the first direction; a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section; and a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the first direction. The relay driving section moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction in the first direction, at the same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are conveyed in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher moves the plurality of objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

The invention relates to a packaging assembly comprising a device for transporting a packaging means (2), in particular a carton, said device comprising a continuous conveying section (3) and a plurality of conveying elements (4, 5). The continuous conveying section (3) is oriented vertically, forming an upper run region (30) and a lower nm region (31), and the packaging means (2) is transported on the lower run region (31).

A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.

A stretch packaging machine is provided with a lift mechanism and a tray movement mechanism. The lift mechanism has a plurality of loading members on which a tray is loaded and which lift up the tray toward film such that the tray contacts the film sealing an opening at the top of the tray. The tray movement mechanism is configured to move the tray slidingly over the loading members of the lift mechanism to a predetermined position on the loading members. A frictional coefficient of at least first loading members is such that contact between the tray and the loading members disposed on the near side in the moving direction in which the tray is moved by the tray movement mechanism is smaller than the frictional coefficient of second loading members disposed on the far side in the moving direction.

A method operates a packaging machine for wrapping a packaging film around packaging trays. The method includes: feeding the packaging film to a holding mechanism having two spaced-apart holders that hold the packaging film at two opposite sides; pressing a packaging tray against the packaging film by raising the packaging tray from below; and guiding opposite sides of the packaging film below the packaging tray. The packaging tray is raised by a raising device that raises a lifting platform from a transfer position into a packaging position, the lifting platform receives the packaging tray, and the packaging tray is transported from a loading position to the transfer position by a feed belt. The lifting platform is held in a middle position by the raising device while the feed belt is transporting the packaging tray between the loading position and the transfer position on an intermediate piece.

A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

A system includes a conveyor that transports a carriage carrying a foodstuff along a path. A bag dispenser contains multiple bags and moves a first bag into the path. A paddle includes a hinge at a trailing edge of the paddle. The paddle includes an actuator that moves a leading edge of the paddle relative to the trailing edge between retracted and extended positions. The leading edge of the paddle moves into a mouth of the first bag as the leading edge is moved from the retracted to the extended position. While the paddle is in the extended position, movement of the carriage and the foodstuff underneath the paddle rotates the leading edge of the paddle about the hinge to open the mouth of the first bag such that continued movement of the carriage and the foodstuff moves the foodstuff through the mouth and into the first bag.

A wrapping unit (1) for a packaging line (2) comprises a conveyor (6) for feeding a succession of products (3) in a first direction (7) and a wrapping station (9) arranged along the conveyor (6) for wrapping a film (5) of wrapping material around said products (3), said wrapping station (9) comprising a wrapping device (13) provided with a plurality of wrapping members (15), each of said wrapping members (15) extending in a second direction (11) perpendicular to said first direction (7), said wrapping unit (1) further comprising a stability control group (12) for preventing said products (3) from tipping along said conveyor (6), said stability control group (12) comprising a plurality of anti-tip devices (33), each of said anti-tip devices (33) being associated, during operation, with a respective product (3) to move together with said respective product (3) through said wrapping station (9).